The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) dropped today a report on the first 100 days of Patrick Oboi Amuriat as the Party President. This is a transparent and open move, to show what is happening behind the scenes, also show what they are doing at Najjanankubi Headquarters. It isn’t just mere hearsay, but recorded for the future to back-into the promises made and the building of party organization. This show resiliance, but also strength in the midst of oppression.

The paragraph that catched my eye was this one:

“Review of the initiatives on 2016 Election Audit process

A number of development partners and donor agencies have been met to highlight what went wrong in the Presidential elections of 2016. The failure of government to implement recommended electoral reforms and the rushed and forceful amendment of the constitution were addressed to the country’s

partners. The Party is persuaded about the reluctance by Mr. Museveni to agree to an Audit of the 2016 Presidential elections outcome. Whereas we are open to dialogue, we wish to maintain our demand that this will only be based on the Audit of 2016 Presidential Election being on top of the Agenda” (FDC, P: 10, 2018).

After a hurdle of an election, a rigged affair with a math question, a questionable equation that doesn’t fit the numbers. That is what the Electoral Commission dropped in favor of the National Resistance Movement and the President for Life Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Therefore, the lines here from the FDC. Says a lot about the stalemate, that the lacking care and the forced changes of the Constitution with the Amendment, that gave him life presidency. That has been more vital for the regime, than making sure there is provisions for free- and fair election.

The FDC knows that the NRM will not audit or have serious look into the General Election and the Presidential Election of 2016, because the NRM knows what the result will be. Therefore, the agenda of the FDC will not change the matter. The ghost of the past will come out and scare Museveni in his sleep. He has stolen and rigged a victory. That the donor agencies and development partners have gotten information is fine, but they are still supporting and working directly with the NRM. They have not stopped being partners with Museveni, even if they know that he has stolen it. The NRM rigged it and took the Republic for a ride.

The wish for dialogue with Musevni, will only end-up in fashion of Nairobi-talks of the past. Museveni will never accept to lose, he might play, but he will end on top. If not there isn’t anything in it for him. The President is only in it if he gets to eat and be the king. If the President isn’t king, than he will not accept anything. He knows that it was rigged and it was rigged on his orders. Therefore, an audit cannot happen, because then the obvious rigging will be exposed.

So, POA and FDC can wish for dialogue on this, but they are losing the premise. I think they know that, but it shows character that it is mentioned nevertheless. Peace.

Between 1 January 2017 and 31 January 2018, at least 47 people, including women and children, were killed by security services and defence forces in the context of demonstrations.

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 19, 2018 – The right to freedom of peaceful assembly was severely restricted and often violently suppressed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017 and the trend continues so far this year, according to a UN report issued on Monday. The report* documents killings and other serious human rights violations due to the use of excessive force by security services and defence forces in relation to mass protests.

Between 1 January 2017 and 31 January 2018, at least 47 people, including women and children, were killed by security services and defence forces in the context of demonstrations and there are indications that Congolese security services have attempted to cover up these serious human rights violations by removing the bodies of victims and obstructing the work of national and international observers, the report states.

The report, published jointly by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)**, describes the lack of compliance with national law and international standards, in particular the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, precaution and accountability, related to the use of force by security services and defence forces during the suppression of peaceful demonstrations between January 2017 and January 2018.

The report is based on information collected during six main mobilization days and it states that while some people armed with sticks and broomsticks did attempt to perpetrate violence during some protests, the vast majority of demonstrators were peaceful. The use of excessive force – including lethal force – by the authorities was thus unlawful, unjustified and disproportionate.

The report also states that increasing restrictions to fundamental rights and freedoms coupled with inflammatory speeches and threats against demonstrators are cause for deep concern at a time when it is particularly important to create an environment conducive to peaceful elections.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, Leila Zerrougui, said the report highlights impunity gaps and a continued shrinking of the democratic space in the country observed since the beginning of 2015.

“This is inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the 31 December 2016 Agreement and its confidence-building measures. Demonstrations are intrinsically related to freedom of expression and it is absolutely necessary that all voices can be heard in the context of the forthcoming elections,” Zerrougui said.

“The creation by the Ministry of Human Rights of a joint commission of inquiry*** with representatives of the civil society is a positive step forward for accountability and reparation for the victims,” she added. Zerrougui welcomed the findings of the Commission and urged their full and swift implementation. She expressed the readiness of the UN to provide support in that regard.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said the systematic suppression of demonstrations, including through the use of disproportionate force, is a serious breach of international human rights law and the laws of the DRC. There is an urgent need for a meaningful, transparent and independent judicial investigation into these violations and other allegations.

“It is particularly disturbing that security services and defence forces carry out this violence with almost full impunity which can be perceived as encouraging such repression,” he said. “We are seeing the quashing of dissent at all costs – even at the cost of human life – in the DRC by the systematic deployment of armed forces alongside the Police Nationale Congolaise to handle protests.”

Zerrougui and Zeid urged the Government to allow the exercise of the rights to peaceful assembly and expression, warning that repression would only breed frustration, could lead to serious deteriorations in the security situation in the country and could pose a threat to the electoral process. For credible elections to be held at the end of this year, the Government has an obligation to ensure that people’s civil and political rights are respected and their exercise is facilitated.

** The UN Joint Human Rights Office, which was established in February 2008, comprises the Human Rights Division of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the DRC (OHCHR-DRC).

*** At the request of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the report of the joint commission of inquiry is annexed as an answer to the UN report.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (First Amendment – Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791. The first 10 amendments form the Bill of Rights’).

The Donald J. Trump Presidency is really insane, it is really a horror house of governance, by a former so-called Tycoon who slaps his name on buildings and golf-courses, but haven’t built much himself in the recent years. President Trump who fires, misfires and hires willy-nilly are now leaked about his Non-Disclosure Agreements with White House staff, that is insane, and is blatant in disregard to freedom of speech, liberty and of people’s will to speak out of the madness happening with the term of the President.

You know he really has many crimes, much activity he don’t want disclosed, don’t want public. When all aides, all appointments and all people working for him in the White House. Signing NDA’s that silence them “at all times thereafter”. It isn’t like they are only signing, we will not classified information, we will not leak private conversations while being in the White House. No, it is all time after. So if your in the 20s or 30s hired like Stephen Miller, he cannot leak crap all his life for all the decades he is alive after Trump stopped being President. The same with Hope Hicks, who isn’t that old. She would be silent for 5 decades after what she saw as one of the trusted aides of Trump. Hicks could clearly have written a tell-all book about her time in the Trump Organization and Trump White House. But she wouldn’t be allowed, sure the President made similar agreements in his businesses. Seriously, he must have, since he cannot stomach to release them Tax-Returns. The grand-coward cannot be transparent, but that we know.

Non-Disclosure Agreement from the White House:

“As outlined in the document, this restriction would cover Trump aides not only during their White House service but also “at all times thereafter.” The document: “I understand that the United States Government or, upon completion of the term(s) of Mr. Donald J. Trump, an authorized representative of Mr. Trump, may seek any remedy available to enforce this Agreement including, but not limited to, application for a court order prohibiting disclosure of information in breach of this Agreement.” (Marcus, 2018).

That he will take former employees, former aides and appointed into cabinet if they talk is outrages. That he thinks he can control the first amendment and silence the staff for life is insane. It is vindictive and vicious. But nothing new from this man, whose done the same to Stormy Daniels and who else he has had a shady relationship while being married. I am sure he has more NDA’s which is connected to his infidelity, because this man has no self-control. Just look at the man’s tweet and you know!

You can wonder if this is made by the legal team of Michael Cohen and not under government protocol. Like I doubt the Department of Justice had a review, neither the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) or the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) at the White House. Because, they know the laws and standards for government officials and public servants. The appointed people and hired staff in the White House is not personal minions of Trump. Even if he thinks so and thinks he is secretly King Kong who can solve any crises. Even if he creates most of them on his own.

It should be easy to dismiss, any scholar should understand that the NDA cannot violate the First Amendment, than it should be tarnished and rewritten. They cannot mute people from the free speech, they cannot stop people from talking and being in the press after the tenure of Trump. They are not allowed to leak sensitive information, not allowed to disclose confidential information, but that is while being staff. However, when they are clocked-out and contract done. Then, they can disclose matters and also put the stories in print if they want. That is natural. Therefore, these NDA’s are stupid and vindictive, because Trump is afraid of the stories. Even Wolf’s book ‘Fire and Fury’ has stirred the pot, but there will be more in the future. These NDA’s will not last.

The President is not above the law, even if he thinks so inside his own mind. He has to respect the law, just like any citizen has to abide to it. It is time the President understand that, it is a lot to ask of Trump. But someone had to do it, it just happen to be me. Peace.

Reading in the recent hours that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) have started to blame the old adversary Eritrea. There has been skirmishes during the recent years, just like Eritrea has annexed land from Djibouti. Therefore, if it was true, it would be believable. However, I doubt that Eritrea is the reason behind the demonstrations and the protests in Oromia. That is lie from the Command Post Secretariat. They have to walk on water like Jesus before I believe that.

The TPLF and Aghazi squad is the one that is creating trouble on the Horn of Africa. The TPLF and the military forces in the provinces of Amhara and Oromia is the troublemaker. They don’t need forces from abroad to create chaos. They have done it perfectly well on their own. That is proven with the massacre in Moyale. Where total of 8500 approximately fled to Kenya. Therefore, it is not like the State of Emergency and the use of military force against civilians isn’t showing consequences across the border.

To blame this instance the Eritrean Government is a deception, as the matter in hand and the occupation troops are their own. They are the ones shooting, killing and detaining own citizens. Who is peacefully protesting, like the gasoline strike in Oromia this week. That has stopped convoys of petroleum to reach Ethiopia and the hurting of the economy that does. This is because their voice is not heard and if the security agents thinks something is happening. Like a motorcycle accident, it can turn into a massacre like in Moyale. We cannot have faith in this sort of government. Where they raid homes, throw tear-gas and kill kids who are parts protest. That has happen again and again. They don’t need outside sources for their troubles.

While Ethiopia is blaming Eritrea for the State of Emergency, they are the ones sanctioning and punishing their own public. They are using military seizure of towns, road-blocks and threats. They are limiting the voices and expressions. They are using all means to silence the ones speaking against the TPLF and EPRDF. They are pulling a blind eye on the ill-will of themselves. While not asking themselves, why these people are demonstrating in the first place. The greed for power is evident and has been for long.

They are blaming Eritrea, but they should be careful, because they are putting high stakes in Somaliland and you can wonder if they can pay the bills for their arrangements with Djibouti, with the railway and the possible pipeline. This will be proven if the Ethiopian government can carry that too. While the government might also pull strings into Somalia it cannot carry, as the relationship with Djibouti might become fragile. Therefore, the escalation of the protest and the demonstration might cost even more for TPLF.

The TPLF and EPRDF should be careful, but instead they are stirring the pot on the Horn of Africa. They are just missing to piss of Kiir and the Juba government. Saying something about Cattle Rustling from the border region. However, that has not happen, but wouldn’t be surprising. The acts of the EPRDF claiming this about the Eritrean. Is a way of washing their hands of dirt, instead of taking more responsibility for their actions against their own citizens, they claim a foreign power came in a created havoc.

The TPLF should look into itself and pound on the predicament it has put itself in. It is self-destructive, it will create a revolution that it cannot control. That because it didn’t reconcile, that was a decision it made and should regret, but the will to stay power by all means. Has been the way of this government. That is why so many political prisoners been detained, why so many innocent lives been taken by the soldiers and why so many people been hurt by the security agents. That should be shocking, but instead it is just another day in the TPLF era.

You can put blame, but that doesn’t make it real, you can make up stories, but that doesn’t make it true. It would better if you took the blame, used some of the courage of the decrees of shooting on your own population and carried the hurt on your own backs. Instead of deflecting and trying to spin it away. The only think it shows, is that your desperate for legitimacy and for making the ill actions righteous. Which isn’t a good move.

Time to step your game up, TPLF, take the courage, man-up and stand-up for the ills you have put onto others. Just because you want to be in power and rule the whole Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It is time, to swallow your pride and show some mercy, show some accountability and not just blaze the guns. You will just be further and further down the cliff of destruction and fuel a revolution in the provinces, which you cannot hold-on too. Because there isn’t enough of you, but more of them. It is simple math. Peace.

Since it is now revealed how far the ICT Company and Campaign Monitor Company Cambridge Analytica went in the United States, where they analyzed and took information, collected and made sure to target the public, because of the information from 50 million United States Citizens. It is interesting because the connection the same company had in Kenya. They we’re hired and worked for the President. They worked for President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. They we’re connected with the ruling pary Jubilee and also with the Electoral Commission. This being the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

There been found that the Cambridge Analytica was in-charge of IEBC Web-pages, who knows what sort of information the company has stalled through the registers and the gist of public details. If they have collected similar information on Kenyan citizens in the same ways as in United States. They have already done it one place the years before in 2015 and 2016, why not do the same in Kenya in 2017. That would be plausible.

“Our data came from the myPersonality Facebook application which I ran from 2007 until it ceased data collection in 2012. Users consented to their data being used in research and then completed a Big Five personality questionnaire which gave them feedback on their results. Over the five years of its operation the app collected data from approximately 6 million users. We examined Facebook Likes from a subset of approximately 60,000 American users” (Stillwill, 2018).

So with the knowledge of the extended survey and collection of data in concerning of the American Election, I am sure the same company has done similar efforts in Kenya. To get the right views and make sure they are on the measures they needed to be. If not, why where you working for Kenyatta and serving his party with information. Just like they did for the Trump Campaign so they could target areas and come with the sort of ads and click-bait stories to catch the people in doubt. This is why the company was hired in the first place, to make sure the political campaign hit the home-run in battle states in the United States. You can wonder what the same company planned, what sort of collection of data and how many of the Kenyan citizen’s on Facebook, which has been collected from. Since that is not known, also what sort of play and what information they got by having the IEBC Web-Page on their server.

“There are many different potential sources for the additional information that could have been used. It is plausible that Cambridge Analytica Ltd also have a psychographic model of Prof. Carroll and Prof. Golumbia, given that they claim to use psychographics in their political advertising. Alternatively, Cambridge Analytica Ltd may have based its predictions on any number of alternative data points, such as whether Prof. Carroll and Prof. Golumbia are a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), are known to have purchased a gun, etc” (Stillwill, 2018).

So it is hard know what they used the collected data in the 2016 Elections in the United States, but that they had it and target it to the public is fairly obvious. Therefore, to expect the same in the run-offs in the 2017 in Kenya, seems likely too. If not they wouldn’t been billing the state and the ruling party. They wouldn’t have been working and making adverts, and also campaigns for the President. That is clearly and also understandable. We can just wonder what sort of details the company has on the citizens of Kenya and what they used it for. What they got from the IEBC before they used the servers. There are many open venues, but non is disclosed. This should be investigated, as the privacy and the rights of the citizens are taken for granted. Which is never right. There are already FinTech companies who has to much information on Kenyan citizens. This comes in the same regard. Peace.

Yesterday’s stand-off in the Parliament as the two tabled ‘no confidence’ votes transpired into the Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire decision to send the Special Guard to the Parliament to prove his power to the Lower House Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari. Today, The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) sent troops to the Parliament to settle the stand-off of yesterday, if these we’re the orders of the Force Commander Lieutenant General Osman Noor Soubagleh or somebody else is hard to know.

But the political squabble and the use of military force to settle the score cannot continue. This transpiring efforts will only undermine the state and the means of the Federal Government of Somalia. That is not a show of strength, when the PM orders the Special Guards to the Parliament, neither is it show of strength, when the Peacekeepers has to occupy the National Assembly. We all know that is a bad sign ahead. No matter what they call the action today, if it a redeployment or a takeover. Yesterday, was a vicious act to spike fear in the mind of Jawari, even if I doubt it would do that to him,

We can wonder where President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo has been, why he hasn’t said anything, condemn either of the political actors, neither his deputy or the speaker. No one has been answered, the President is so silent. You could think he was hiding beneath a rock or try to get to Addis Ababa. Because, he is not heard from. Even the fishes speaks more of the recent acts in Mogadishu than him, I am sure Nemo has some answers for Farmajo.

Another one, who usually challenges the political landscape and acts like a local kingpin, is United Nations Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating. I was expecting to blaze all guns and spiteful chants of different types. As he sometimes at international affairs and even at forums are more viable than heads of the Federal Government of Somalia. Therefore, in an affair like this, he might should have taken more charge. Since he likes the spotlight and looks like he matters in Somalian questions.

With the AMISOM actions, they clearly used the status of the 11 Point of their mandate: “To provide and assist, as appropriate, protection to the Somali authorities to help them carry out their functions of government, and security for key infrastructure” (AMISOM – ‘AMISOM Mandate’). So the Parliament can be seen as part of Somali authorities and key infrastructure. Some call the acts today a redeployment and not a takeover. But after yesterday, it seems like an act to show their mandate to the people.

Since the Special Guards came yesterday, we can wonder how this will evolve, how the different fractions will behave and how the next few days will be. Since the PM has used the army for his personnel gain, while questions of others non-action shows their true face. It should be expected that the President acts and also address his closest Deputy, instead he has left him go of the hook. He could also have addressed the Speaker to clear the air. Instead, nothing has happen and the transpired affair shows.

The ending of a political career can show the weakest links, can show how they act under stress. The PM goes to use soldiers and use of the army to settle his affairs with men who wants him away. The Speaker tries to use protocol and find out if he is allowed to do the same. However, the one with the guns stops all activity, but he loses face, because they know it was wrong behavior and the world knows it.

PM Kheire has flipped has cards, but he doesn’t have a full-house, not even a straight flush, he should have wished he had a royal flush, but he didn’t. We could wish the PM had bluffed, but he didn’t stack the deck, he just went into with a bad hand. The risked all with all-in without knowing the consequences. We will see if he wins, but it will not be because of brilliant tactics, because it hasn’t been.

AMISOM has acted, but the tale of the Lower House of the Parliament is not over and the ‘No Confidence’ for either the Speaker and PM will come up again. But the one that has lost face is the PM. Who has misused his position and put himself in the line of fire, because of either arrogance or fear for his position. Peace.

It is interesting, that after a decade of getting away from the Courts, having the African National Congress (ANC) holding his hands and singing kumbaya around the burning fire. Before dwelling, this is by all means about the laid charges on former South African President Jacob Zuma. Whose had has his scandals in the years as President, and since he has stepped down. The backers has left the building, the banks and the business has broken down. If there ever was a house of cards, the supporting team and the business associations with Zuma is a proof of the need of the Executive to do business in South Africa in the Zuma Era. Nothing else is more evident than the fall of the Gupta owned enterprises and the sudden need for Business Rescue. The ones that are losing on all of this, has been the citizens and the state in general. Since the Gupta’s and Zuma’s has eaten of the plate and left breadcrumbs for the citizens. Now it might be changes, as the evident charges are proving.

This is happening for a man, that for ten years stifled the courts, and the cost came up to about 15 million Rands. It proves the extent of ill-will and ill-intent from the President. How he could use his position and navigate to get wealth while being in office. Nothing was happening, because of his backers and appointments was in his grace. While the Gupta’s could foot the bills and shower him with gifts. It was the good old days, where the Executive Branch of Government could use the State Owned Enterprises as Personal Goodie-Bag for the Gupta Owned Companies and earn a handsome profit. But since resigning and handing it over to Cyril Ramaphosa, the tides has changed, it is proven with the charge sheet. I will take the most brazen parts of it. To prove how ill it was.

Zuma is accused of:

“In terms of section 136 of the (final) Constitution accused 1 may not have- (c) used his position or any information entrusted to him, to enrich himself or improperly benefit any other person” (P:13, 2018).

He got 16 Counts against him. This being fraud, racketeering and corruption. This is serious allegations, but nor surprising in the sense of Zuma. He could surely have dozens more, but then you need the evidence and the witnesses to the affairs. This might implicate people who are still in office. That is the danger, that is maybe why these charges have come with these businesses and not others. But that is mere speculations, but worth noting.

Nkandla madness:

“Accused 1* needed funds to pay for the development of his traditional residential village estate at Nkandla in rural northern KZN. Plans for the development were dated March 2000. The development commenced in approximately July 2000. The final tender amount agreed to was R1 340 000 (after the development was commenced with). The development was finalized during March 2001. Various arrangements were made during the construction and subsequently to provide finance on accused 1’s behalf. At no stage during construction and thereafter has accused 1 been able to settle the outstanding

amount or obtain finance without the intervention and assistance of third parties, including arrangements for payment through Shaik in accordance with the agreement to disguise payments to accused 1 described above” (P: 26, 2018).

* Jacob Zuma.

Again, he used government funds to build Nkandla. It is Achilles heel, it always returns, therefore, the scandals evolving the home in Kwa-Zulu Natal is really damaging his legacy, as it is proven hornets nest of trouble and stinging him. The former President really didn’t cover his tracks, even in the years before he became the Executive. But that was known of and this case is digging into old dirt. Therefore, referring to cases, which todays ANC wasn’t directly involved in or the leadership has already become ANC Stalwarts.

“IN THAT during the period 25 October 1995 to 1 July 2005 and at or near Durban in the district of Durban, Shaik and/or the other entities mentioned in the preamble unlawfully and corruptly gave and/or offered and/or agreed to give the abovementioned service and/or facility benefits, which were not legally due, to accused 1*, upon whom the powers had been conferred and/or who had the duties as set out in the preamble, with the intention to influence accused 1 to commit and/or omit to do any act in relation to his powers and/or duties to further the interests of Shaik and/or the entities associated with Shaik and/or the Thomson-CSF group and/or accused 2 and/or accused 3 as set out in the preamble and/or with the intention to reward accused 1 because he so acted in excess of such powers or any neglect of such duties, as set out in the preamble” (P: 52-53, 2018).

* Jacob Zuma.

Again, we see how the former President used his position and his well known ideals to get paid extra. To use the connection of state to get benefits and facilitation’s that wasn’t within his role. The Company and Business People connected with him and paid him to get special interests and make sure to get government contracts. So both parties would benefit from the fraud and the bribes. Dual victory of the agreement made.

If you really want to understand the deal and the charges put on Zuma, also on his business associates in this matter. You would be wise to read the book called ‘After the Party’ by Andrew Feinstein, which was published in 2010. It gives you insights into it, that shows the magnificent tale in itself. This is years ago, but still viable and therefore, this skeleton out of the closet has been released. There are dozens of counts and charges that could be put of fresher scandals, but the State has decided to go for an older corruption case. Clearly, signaling it could be more in the future. Because this isn’t even involved with the investors of the Gupta family. Peace.